BREAKING NEWS: Kano to reactivate water plant for improved supply

Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf

 Following the persistent water scarcity experienced within the Kano metropolise and its environs, the state government has disclosed that it plans to reactivate the 95-year-old Challawa Water Treatment Plant as part of measures to boost water supply in the state capital.

The Managing Director of the State Water Board, Alhaji Garba Bichi, made the disclosure after a facility tour of the plant at Challawa, near Kano, on Tuesday.

He said the facility, which is the first water treatment plant to be established in the state, was constructed in 1930 during the reign of the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Abdullahi Bayero, to supply water to Kano city.

Bichi explained that the facility which used to supply 20 million cubic litres of water per day to parts of Kano city, had been lying moribund for eight years due to neglect by the former administration in the state.

“As a result of the neglect, hoodlums had vandalised and looted the plants’ installation equipment, including pipes, raw water pumps and electrical starters, all of which has resulted in the shortfall in water supply in many parts of the city,” he said.

Also speaking, the state Commissioner of Water Resources, Haruna Doguwa, estimated that it would cost the state government $3.5 million to reactivate the Challawa Waterloo Treatment Plant.

“The government has placed orders for equipment to be used for the reactivation of the water treatment plant,” Doguwa revealed.

The commissioner, who also undertook a tour of the two water tanks at Goron Dutse, condemned the looting of equipment at the facilities.

Doguwa noted that the situation had contributed to the current water supply challenges being faced in parts of the state capital.

However, he assured that efforts were being made to replace the stolen equipment and get the plant back to its functional stage.